President Zuma was greeted by President Mugabe and other leaders when he arrived in Zimbabwe. (Photo Courtesy Buanews)

Talks aimed at resolving the political deadlock in Zimbabwe appeared heading for another collapse after ZANU PF's politburo on Wednesday resolved it would not make any concessions until sanctions targeted at members of Mugabe's regime are lifted.

A new climate of optimism had developed following last weeks visit to Zimbabwe by the mediating South African President Jacob Zuma. He had announced that the parties had agreed to a package of measures to be implemented 'concurrently'. It was also agreed the negotiating teams would attend to all outstanding matters during their deliberations on the 25th, 26th and 29th March, before reporting back to Zuma by the 31st March.

But ZANU PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo effectively let the cat out of the bag when he told the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper that there will not be any movement as far as the outstanding issues are concerned. He said ZANU PF was sticking to the decision of its congress last year that there will not be any concessions until sanctions are lifted. Gumbo went further to say 'the MDC-T must decide how the sanctions are going to be lifted.'

The remarks threw into serious doubt ZANU PF's sincerity in participating in the secret talks being held in Nyanga, although Gumbo tried to water down his statement by saying, 'I am not one of the negotiators. They may conclude, but what I am stating is the party position that we agreed on after Chinamasa briefed us on Wednesday.'

Although the parties agreed details of the talks would remain confidential Gumbo's remarks suggest not much progress is being made.

The ZANU PF spokesman also told the state owned Herald newspaper that no agreements had been reached by the political parties during Zuma's visit. This is despite Zuma having told a press conference, 'I am very encouraged by the spirit of cooperation displayed by the leaders and all the parties. The parties have agreed to a package of measures to be implemented concurrently as per the decision of the SADC Troika in Maputo.'

MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Newsreel the remarks by Gumbo showed the internal fighting within ZANU PF and how they are trying to manage their succession battles. He said it was either rivals grandstanding, or the agreements entered into when Zuma was in the country were not shared by all party members. Chamisa also said he shared the view, held by many, that there was nothing to negotiate. The parties signed an agreement in 2008, all that was left was to actually implement it.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has warned that calls for fresh elections in the country are premature in the absence of an overhaul of the discredited voters' roll and a review of electoral, security and media laws. Both ZANU PF and the MDC-T have hinted at new elections as a possible solution to the political deadlock but ZESN, the largest independent election monitor in the country, believes major reforms are needed before free and fair elections are achievable.